http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Steelers' James Harrison looks up at referee John Parry after being flagged for hitting Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick at at Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday.(File)
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said James Harrison has to change his playing style.
It will be interesting to see what the outside linebacker's take is on the matter after being fined $25,000 on Tuesday for a hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The NFL continues to take a hard line against Harrison in its effort to make the game safer. He has been fined four times this season for a total of $125,000.
Harrison and his agent, Bill Parise, had said they didn't think he should be fined for the roughing-the-passer penalty the three-time Pro Bowler drew last Sunday.
Parise confirmed Harrison's latest fine yesterday in a text message but did not comment further. His voicemail said he would not comment on the fine until next week when he returns from a hunting trip.
Today represents the Steelers players' first media availability since they beat the Bills, 19-16, in overtime.
When asked at his weekly news conference yesterday if Harrison needs to adjust to the way the NFL is policing games — and if he agrees with Harrison that the hit on Fitzpatrick was a textbook one — Tomlin said, "Obviously he does, because the league doesn't agree with him. My opinion doesn't matter."
Tomlin, who has refused to publicly criticize officiating or the NFL's crackdown on what it deems dangerous hits, was also asked if his players are getting unfairly singled out by the league.
"Life isn't fair," he said. "I'm not concerned about fairness. I'm more concerned about preparing for the Baltimore Ravens."
Harrison's latest fine is the same amount that three players recently received for throwing punches in a game, including Oakland Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour.
Seymour hit Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the face after the latter threw a touchdown pass in a Nov. 21 game at Heinz Field.
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan started brawling after a play last Sunday.
All three were ejected from their respective games and none was suspended by the league.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said via e-mail yesterday that, "There is no correlation" between Harrison's fine and the ones handed down for fighting because they are "unrelated infractions."
Aiello added that Harrison received the $25,000 fine because he is a repeat offender of the league's player-safety policy.
Harrison was fined $20,000 in late October for a personal foul penalty on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
He appealed that fine, as well as the $75,000 one he received for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.
Ted Cottrell, an appeals officer who was appointed to his position by the NFL and NFL Players Association, upheld both fines.
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